Conduit stopper



CONDUIT s-TPPER Filed De4c,. l. 1928 l A yvlTNEssEs 5 ATTORNEY Patented July 14, 1931 UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFICE PATRICK GOODMAN, 0F' BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK; MARY GOODMAN AND ELIZABETH A. GOODMAN, ADMINISTRATRICES OF SAID' PATRICK GOODMAN, DECEASED GONDUIT STOPPER Application filed. December 1, 1928.

This invention relates to devices for damming or stopping the flow of fluids through conduit-s, and the same is in the nature of an improvement over my prior United States Patents N55. 940,458, 980,086, 1,589,780 and 1,627,502.

Devices of this nature which are now in use are placed in the conduit through the opening or tap hole so that the adjacent point of the device is disposed in close proximity to the opening. To obtain an effective cut-off of the fluid or gas, much depends on the judgment, ability and experience of the operator to properly position the device, due 'to the fact that the short handle or rod if pushed too far into the conduit will bend or jam in the opening or tap hole, thereby resulting in the forcing of the adjacent periphery of the stopper away from the wall of the conduit. In view of the fact that there is no means of gauging, stopping or checking the device to overcome this disadvantage, the operator must judge the point at which the handle is held while a pull is exerted on the long handle to expand the stopping member. It, therefore, follows that only an experienced or trained man can accomplish the stopping or damming of the conduit quickly and efectually.

It is, therefore, the principal and outstanding object of the present invention to provide in a device of this character, means by virtue of which the point at which the top of the stopper is properly placed is accurately gauged, thus permitting the device to be used effectually and quickly, even by an inexperienced and untrained man.

The invention further contemplates in a device of the character set forth, an improved means engageable with the handle members or rods for locking the same to insure the retention of the device in its damming or closing relation to the conduit.

The invention further embodies an improved construction of the frame-dammingmember by virtue of which increased strength and rigidity is attained.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of construction and mode of use of the device, the economy with which Serial No. 323,117.

it may be produced and the general efliciency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, :reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the manner in which the device is initially introduced to the tap hole or opening of the conduit.

Figure 2 illustrates the position in which the device is turned after the insertion through the tap hole of the conduit.

Figure 3 illustrates the expanded locked condition of the device in its damming or stopping relation to the conduit.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approxi-V mately on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 illustrating the damming member in its frame in expanded condition.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the shorter arm or rod employed for expanding the damming device.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the damming member or stopper includes a normally contracted expansible frame 10 covered by a flexible covering or diaphragm 11 of suitable material and which frame and diaphragm in normally contracted condition are of elongated oval configuration. rl`he spring frame 10 has connected thereto at diametrically disposed points the telescopically associated rod sections 12 and 13, the former being of tubular construction to telescopically receive the latter. At a point substantially intermediate its length, the tubular rod section 12 has pivotally connected therewith at 14 rod sections 15 which are telescopically received by tubular rod sections 16, which latter rod sections are in turn pivotally connected at 17 to the spring frame 10. bviously, when the rod sections 12 and 13 are advanced toward each other, the spring frame 10 is expanded laterally from an elongated oval to a substantially circular configuration to snugly t the bore of the conduit or main A. lhen the damming member or stopper is expanded from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to the position illustrated in Figure 4:, it is obvious that the rod sections 15 are moved away from the rod sections 16.

The means for etiecting the movement of the member from the position illustrated in Figure 1 Vto the positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 consists of a rod loc-k handle 1S which is ulcrumed at 19 to the frame and a shorter rod lock handle 20 which is ulcrumed at 21 to the diametrically opposite point of the frame, said points 19 and 21 being coincident With or corresponding to the points at which the telescopic rod sections 12 and 13 are attached to the frame. Broadly, in theory and practice, the handle members are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the telescopic rod sections 12 and 18 so that the stopper or damming member may be inserted through an opening or tap hole B in the conduit or main A initially in the position illustrated in Figure 1, it being understood that the device is subsequently turned to approximately the position illustrated in Figure 2. In view of the fact that it is important to locate the upper end or end which is adjacent the tap hole B at a definite point With respect to the opening B, the shorter arm or rod 2O is formed With an offset 22 intermediate its length which defines a shoulder engageable with the Wall of the conduit opening or taphole B by virtue of which the positioning of the upper end of the stopper mayo, be gauged. The operator then exerts an upward pull on the longer arm or handle 18 which obviously expands the stopper or damming member from an elongated oval to substantially a circular configuration.

In order to provide means for locking the handle members after the desired expansion of the stopper has been obtained, the longer rod or handle member 18 is formed with an eye 23 While the free terminal of the shorter rod or handle member 20 is formed With a loop 24 at right angles to its axis. A locking element is employed in the nature of a bolt 25 having a hooked terminal 26 at one end of its shank, the opposite end of its shank being threaded at 27 to receive an abutment element 28, preferably in the nature of a Wing nut. After the desired relative movement of the handle members or rods 1S and 20 has been effected, the hooked terminal 26 of the bolt 25 is inserted in the eye 23 and the threaded end 27 is engaged in the looped terminal 24 ot the arm 2O With the abutment element or Wing nut 28 impinged against the loop 24, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. Under this construction and arrangement, it is obvious that the definite gauging of the initial Vpositioning of the stopper element is obtained While means is afforded for positively locking the handle members against slippage in order that a definite sealing of the conduit in advance of i he tap hole is obtained.

What is claimed is:

1. A conduit damming device including a normally contracted expansible stopper member adapted for insertion through a tap hole in the conduit, a pair of rods respectively connected to opposite ends of said member for eii'ecting, upon relative movement thereof, the expansion of the member after its insertion through the tap hole and an offset portion or the rod which is connected with the end of the stopper member which lies nearest the taphole presenting a shoulder for gauging the proper spacing of that end of the member Which is disposed nearest the taphole.

2. A conduit damming device including a normally contracte-d expansible stopper 1nember adapted tor insertion through a tap hole in the conduit, a pair of rods respectively connected to opposite ends of said member tor eiiecting, upon relative movement thereof, the expansion of the member after its insertion through the tap hole, an otiset porg tion of the rod which is connected with the end of the stopper member which lies nearest the tap hole, presenting a shoulder for gauging the proper spacing of that end of the member Which is disposed nearest the tap hole and vmeans engageable respectively with said rods for locking the same against relative movement to hold the device in its damming position.

3. The conduit damming device including a member normally contracted to an elongated oval for insertion through an opening in a conduit and means for expanding the same after insertion in the conduit through said opening comprising a handlepivoted to the end of the member which is initially inserted in the conduit opening and a rod pivoted to the diametrically opposite end of said member, said rod having an oilset portion for engagement with the Wall of the conduit opening by virtue of which the operator may gauge and maintain the proper positioning of the end of the member Which lies closest to said opening, when an outward pull is exerted on the handle for expanding the member.

4. A conduit damming device including a member normally contracted to an elongated oval for insertion through an opening in a conduit and means for expanding the same after insertion in the conduit through said opening comprising a handle pivoted to the end of the member which is initially inserted in the conduit opening vand a rod pivoted to the diametrically opposite end of said member, said rod havingvan offset portion for engagement with the Wall ot the conduit opening by virtue of which the operator may gauge and maintain the proper positioning of the end of the member which lies closest to said opening, when an outward pull is exerted on the handle for lexpanding the member and means engageable respectively with the handle and rod Jfor locking the device in its damming position.

5. A conduit damming device including a member normally contracted to an elongated oval for insertion through an opening in a conduit and means for expanding the same after insertion in the conduit through said opening comprising a handle pivoted to one end of the member and a rod pivoted to the diametrically opposite end of said member said rod having an oiset portion for engagement with the wall of the conduit opening by virtue of which the operator may gauge the proper positioning of said end of the member with respect to said opening, when an outward pull is exerted on the handle for expanding the member, and means engageable respectively with the handle and rod for locking the device in its damming position, said last mentioned means including an eye portion Jformed on the handle, a looped portion Jformed at the free terminal of the rod and a bolt having a hooked extremity engageable in the eye portion of the handle and an adjustable nut threaded on the opposite end of the bolt and engageable with the looped terminal of the rod.

Signed at Brooklyn, N. Y., in the county of Kings and State of New York this 28th day of November, A. D. 1928.

PATRICK GOODMAN. 

